The latest installment from my Indiespensable subscription and I couldn't wait to start!
A husband and wife move to the land between the lake and the woods to start their own life, across the lake from the city where they were raised. There they build their home and wish to build a family, but multiple failed pregnancies chips away at their hope, their marriage, and their sanity. That alone makes for an interesting concept for a book, but this one is wrapped in fable, a fairy tale, a fantasy world, and a nightmare.
I really wanted to love this book. I have thoroughly enjoyed each of my previous Indiespensable selections and had no reason to believe this experience would be any different. I know that this novel has received a great deal of critical acclaim. The writing style is certainly beautiful, lyrical, haunting. But, for me, the story is just too strange and unreal to truly enjoy. I understand fiction and fantasy involve the strange and unreal at times, but this just went too far for me, and when combined with the writing style, made the book seem overdone, too long, and frankly, painful. I don't think I have ever given up on a book, but I was really tempted. I did finish, hoping that it would come around to something that touched me, but it just never got there.
So this week's challenge was to list the top ten most memorable secondary characters. Those characters in novels that were not the main focus, but that captured your imagination, made you want to see more of them. Some of mine come from the same series of books, series that have wonderful casts of characters, which is part of what makes those series great.
Rudy – Liesel's dearest friend in The Book Thief. He is sweet and awkward, funny and brave. Everything a first love and a best friend should be.
Neville Longbottom – Who doesn't love this dorky and awkward wizard from the Harry Potter series? Especially when he finds it in himself to become a courageous hero.
Professor Snape – The poor misunderstood and heartbroken seeming-villain of the Harry Potter series who is ultimately proven to be a hero.
Professor McGonagall – Another character from the Harry Potter series – tough, brave, smart, kind, and caring she really should have been the headmaster long ago!
Foaly – The geeky, arrogant, but utterly cool and brilliant centaur in the Artemis Fowl series.
Holly Short – The tough, determined elf police woman from the Artemis Fowl series. Her relationship with Artemis is humorous, difficult, and touching.
Hassan Harbish – The funny, smart, witty sidekick in An Abundance of Katherines always made me laugh.
LuLu – How to describe LuLu? This ex-prostitute who squeezes into spandex, eats lots of fried chicken and donuts, and manages to nearly kill everyone she tries to help is a laugh a minute in the Stephanie Plum series.
Hawk – I adore this funny, smart, tough, will-do-anything pal to Spenser in the series by Robert B. Parker. You know he always has Spenser's back and their relationship is both hilarious and touching.
Cokie – The mulatto driver for the madam in Ruta Sepetys's Out of the Easy is ultimately the one who is there for Josie. His constancy and his humbleness while doing what is right make him one of my favorites.
Noa P. Singleton is on death row for shooting Sarah Dixon, a young pregnant woman. Six months before her scheduled execution, Sarah's mother, an attorney, Marlene Dixon shows up to tell Noa that she has started M.A.D (Mothers Against Death) and that she wants to petition the governor to grant Noa clemency. What she really wants is to hear Noa's story, a story that Noa has never told to anyone, not during her trial or her incarceration.
There were moments of beautiful and wrenching writing, but there were just as many times where the writing was awkward or it felt as the author used ten-dollar words just to prove she knew them. Unfortunately, most of the main characters are often annoyingly pathetic – Noa, her father, Marlene, even Sarah in her brief appearances. The only character that might be consistently likable is Ollie, Marlene's assistant attorney, and even he disappoints in the end.
It is a story full of guilt and remorse, for all parties involved, that goes back and forth in time between the present and Noa's past, as well as alternating between Noa's story and Marlene's as told through letters she writes to her dead daughter. This does not confuse the story, although I admit to getting bored by it about half way through. The story grabbed me again, but ultimately disappointed in the end. I do not need, nor did I necessarily expect, everything to get tidied up neatly, but it seemed like nothing was really resolved and what was revealed was not startling, just sad.
I really wanted to like this novel, there was a lot of positive buzz around it, but much like Gone Girl, I didn't think it lived up to the hype. That's not to say that I didn't like it, it was OK, it just didn't grab me and leave me wanting more.
MY HUSBAND!!! Without his support and understanding of my bibliophile ways, none of this would be possible.
MY KIDS!! My kids keep me young and keep me interested in new titles and genres that I might not otherwise be drawn to. My son picked up The Hunger Games first… And my daughter got me to read the Divergent series… Our story times together at night also give me a chance to try out new children and young adult books and get reactions from a different audience.
Other bloggers. I love to see what others are doing, what they are reading – there is so much out there to learn from.
Goodreads and Shelfari. I use both of these to track what I'm reading (only Shelfari has everything I'm reading – GoodReads just has what I have reviewed) and to look up information about a book that I may have forgotten by the time I write about it… What was that character's name again??
Audio books. These make blogging easier because they allow me to experience some of my favorite series when I don't have the time to read them all! That leaves me time to actually read the stuff I want to blog about!
The gift of being a fast reader. Luckily, I've always been a fast reader. If not, there would be no way I could get through as much of my to-read list as I do (and the list never gets shorter!).
ARCs. Whether hard copy (my preference) or e-book, it is always great to get a chance to get ahead of the curve and read and review something early. It's also a great way to try out new authors, genres, or series without making a commitment!
WordPress. I know how to code in HTML and have developed websites before, but WordPress definitely makes it easier to get my blog out there, connect with other bloggers, and even keep on top of my blog via my phone.
Email lists. OK, I get way too much email, but there are great lists out there that keep me in touch with what is coming soon, what is receiving good reviews, etc.
When I started reading some light summer "beach books" there were some noticeable trends. Earlier, I wrote a post about those that focused on weddings and romance (Summer Wedding Reads), but then I hit a couple that focused on the opposite – divorce and the ending of marriage. Of course, that doesn't mean that the happy endings went away….
Successful blogger and lifestyle star Grace Stanton catches her husband cheating on her with her assistant and promptly drives his expensive sports car into their swimming pool. She finds herself locked out of her palatial home, her bank accounts, and even her blog, forcing her to move in with her widowed mother above her rundown bar. To make matters worse, the judge forces her to attend divorce counseling with an unstable counselor. When the counselor's behavior becomes increasingly odd, Grace and the other members of the group head to her mother's bar for their own "therapy" sessions. While they spend time together in the bar, they begin to help each other with their betrayals and Grace begins to develop a relationship with Wyatt, the one lone male in the group (who didn't see that coming?!).
It took me awhile, but I did like Grace once she got past being a spineless spoiled brat. Her efforts to renovate a house and her relationship with her mother were entertaining. The relationship with Wyatt, while too soon and unrealistic, was still sweet. Her career as a blogger and multimedia celebrity was timely and interesting. However, I simply could not connect with the other members of her therapy group. Their personalities were not well formed (other than their vengeful acts which would have landed most people in jail) and the connections did not feel real. The mystery surrounding the divorce counselor seemed oddly thrown in and really didn't add anything to the story.
Overall, it was a quick beach read, not awful, but not amazing.
Leslie Carter is the last original wife. All of her husband's friends have moved on to newer (and much younger) models than the original. No longer are evenings at the club an enjoyable time to catch up with her old friends, now she just sits back in horror at the new wives and their antics, feeling old and out of place. To make matters worse, she recently had an accident while in Ireland. Not only did Wes (her husband), not realize she was missing for some time, he then left her in a hospital with a concussion and broken bones. Why? He had a tee time to make! Throw in a couple of rotten kids, using their parents as babysitters and as a bank, and Leslie has had enough! Throwing a few things into a suitcase she heads to spend some time with her brother at his home in Charleston.
While in Charleston, she reconnects with a high school sweetheart, but does not use him as the solution to her problems, instead taking the time to focus on herself. Wes is not evil, just oblivious and incredibly self-absorbed. Leslie and Wes embark on therapy, giving us a look into the inner thoughts of each, and there are moments where Wes is almost likable, but what he wants most is for things to go back to the way they were and what Leslie needs most is for them to change.
Overall, it was a quick and enjoyable read, not as much of a southern flavor as in her previous novels, but still enough to add charm. Her interactions with her family once she got tough were entertaining; the whole lot of them seemed entirely clueless. I loved her relationship with her brother and her journey to self-awareness, although I never found the old beau entirely convincing.


text:
Devaluation – not such an easy option for most of us.
Readers of this site will know that I expect the squeeze on people's incomes to intensify this autumn and winter. The government has decided that it is not going to make any of the adjustment in the public sector by reducing its spending – on the contrary it is boosting it in the most irresponsible way, to pay for its state pensioners like Northern Rock. As the country has borrowed too much on a grand scale that means individuals and families have to tighten their belts even more.
We all know that part of the belt tightening is forced on us by higher Council taxes, higher tax from petrol and diesel, threatened higher Vehicle Excise Duty and the abolition of the 10p band. We all know another part of it comes from rip off government, with endless increases in fees and charges for government "services".
This week we are witnessing a third part of the squeeze – devaluation of our currency. In recent months we have got used to devaluation against the Euro. We have had a 10% devaluation compared with its starting rate, meaning that if anyone does want to buy a German car or a bottle of French wine it costs 10% more. Now we are having to get used to devaluation against the dollar. The government has presided over a 7% devaluation in just the last couple of weeks.
Labour governments have a habit of devaluing. In the days of fixed exchange rates there was drama, with a government trying to "save" the pound, only to give in in the end. Labour took us down from the $4.03 rate to $2.80 on 14th September 1949, and devalued again on 18th November 1967 from $2.80 to $2.40. Now they are in the process of taking the pound down from over $2 where it had reached in the early 1990s and again last year, under a regime of floating rates. There will be less drama, but the effects on our living standards will be the same.
I prefer floating rates to fixed rates, and recognise just how much damage was done to the UK economy in the past by trying to defend silly rates. The devaluation we have had recently against the Euro will help our exporters. However, if a government uses floating rates to remove discipline over its own budgets and finances, it will end in tears. If a government spends, borrows and inflates the public sector too much the currency will give too much, helping fuel the inflation. This government had better be more careful, now it is embarked on this slippery path. Currency falls can run further than the authorities might like if they remain careless about them and their causes.
What we can be sure about is that people are getting poorer because the government is determined to stay richer. The devaluation of recent days against the dollar, and the devaluation of recent months against the Euro has cut the value of the "pound in your pocket". Many commodities and products are priced in dollars on world markets. They are suddenly dearer thanks to the fall in the pound. That means we can buy less of them.
So pull in that belt a bit more. Living standards are falling and have further to fall. An overborrowed government has no intention of tightening its belt, so that means the rest of us have to do so even more.
credit crunchcurrencydevaluation
Johnny Norfolk
This has been concerning me for some time and your piece is the first I have read about this. It makes you wonder why so many in the media do not appear to understand basic econonomics and just follow the proaganda given out by the Labour government. It was not as easy for the last Tory government as everything was examined by the media in minute detail. Whats changed. ?
Reply: The media are still too casual, accepting Labour spin instead of coming to http://www.johnredwood.com to see what is really going on!
I agree with your analysis. Perhaps you could also pass it on to John Butterfill, who as my local conservative MP took it upon himself a short while ago to vote for above inflation increases in MP's pay and expenses.
Obviously everyone is entitled to his own vote, but in the current climate I expected rather better from all Tories, not just most of them.
Brian Tomkinson
Further bad news for the hard-pressed public but market sentiment regarding the Bank of England's intentions to reduce interest rates, as advocated strongly and persistently by you, has greatly exacerbated this situation.
Reply: I have always advocated less public spending and borrowing as well- a balanced package – starting with no spending on N Rock
MartinW
This is exactly what we should be discussed in these stark terms on the BBC.
It is scandalous that the mismanagement of the economy by Brown has never subject to proper scrutiny. Instead we have the NuLab apologist, Robert Peston.
It appears that economies are moving back in-line as far as exchange rates and current account balances are concerned. See: http://www.economist.com/finance/economicsfocus/d…
As our current account balance is now around minus £70 billion, we should not be surprised the currency is falling to try and balance the macroeconomic basics.
BTW. I am not sure that we have an equivalent of the US Government Accountability Office, it works for and is accountable to Congress. It seems to have a much more powerful remit than our NAO or whatever. Anyway, its ex head a David Walker is making a film about US public debt; see; http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm…
I think we need to find the UK equivalent of Mr Walker and do a similar presentation to the nation. Time to put your make-up on Mr Redwood???? http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm…
The problem we face, with manufacturing at only 9%, is that we are not in a position currently to revive our economy through exports, in spite of any devaluation. The incoming Conservative government must have a strategy in place to support manufacturing and allow it to grow with special-tax-status so that we allow manufacturers to keep more of their money in order to expand and to create jobs. I should also like to see a 'wage-equalization' tariff imposed on competitor nations who pay sweatshop wages, so that British manufacturing can compete on an equal basis for access to our domestic market.
Devaluation has some transient benefits but its worth remembering that it will push up the cost of imports, particularly food and fuel which are daily purchases for most people. The floating system is a major factor in boom and bust as economies swing from one extreme to the other, in trade between liquidity or greater purchasing power. The UKs economic performance since Sterling was floated is proof of that. Ultimately we need a stable system of forex, otherwise we will continue to lurch from boom to bust and back again.
Unfortunately the Conservative treasury team (if you can call them that) are stumn on the issue, as they have been on pretty much everything economic. We have had the fastest house price decline, including the early 90's , but the Shadow Treasury team aren't trying to remove that albatross from the Conservative party necks, put there by Major, and hang it round Brown's neck. The same with Starlings collapse. Labour buried the Conservatives when they presided over such incompetence, yet it seems the Shadow Treasury team just can't be bothered.
But its worse than that for the Conservative Shadow Treasury team haven't bothered to develop up any sort of economic narrative. The issues of the housing market and sterling are the product of Brown's economic mismanagement, who has built an economy on debt and consumption. Debt as can be seen by our pitifully low saving levels, and the fact that we in the UK carry half of Europe's personal debt, and consumption as seen in our trade deficit, which has hit a truly horrendous £80 billion deficit, or £50 billion balance of payments deficit. Yet are these issues being raised by the Shadow Treasury team? No, nothing, they can't be bothered. Yet these things should be being rammed home and the Shadow Treasury team ensuring that these issues are at the front of everybody's minds, just as Labour rammed home the mantra of negative equity and ensured the electorate were never to forget it.
Neil Craig
The amount of public resentment of Labour about the recession is surprising in light of the fact that there is no recession of the economy. The explanation is that there is a recession in what people take home since the government are taking more of it. This devaluation is bound to increase this effect. It also makes it more difficult for Labour to claim that rising prices are because of world conditions though I have no doubt they will continue to try to do so.
Stuart Fairney
Currency devaluations are no joke. My own wife saw a devaluation her country of birth between 1979 and 1980 of staggering proportions. Pre-revolutionary Iran saw the toman go from eight to the pound, to one thousand to the pound when the ayatollahs took over. It basically makes paupers out of everyone. And if you have booked a holiday this summer, you will have observed the extra costs.
As a trading economy, we import inflation to boot. There is only one positive light (not of Labour's doing, indeed they would like to do the opposite). The pound has sunk to reflect our weakened economic position. This is what floating currencies should do. If we were in the Euro we could not of course devalue relative to Europe thereby making the coming recession much the worse.
Keith McBurney
Glad you see and say it as it is John. When you feel the pinch, imagine the effect it's having on others much less well placed to see it through.
It's all so inept. The only thing left for the UK-wide political parties to deliver is us from them.
Government spending growth must be set at a maximum of 1.5% less than average GDP growth every year in real terms untill the PSBR has been wiped out . Falling public borrowing and smaller government will stimulate private investment while bringing greater economic stability . It is wrong to pass on extra burdens to future generations for the sake of spending too much on government procurement , QUANGO's , consultants ripping off Whitehall and excess numbers of civil servants that explain why departments of state cost too much to run . If someone like me on £12,000 or so a year has to tighten his financial belt due to soaring prices and a credit crunch why cannot the public sector wring out its pointless spending and get borrowing down paving the way for cuts in interest rates & inflation ?
Instead of loading money onto tax credits that cost a bomb to manage and cause distress & poverty by making the poverty trap worse to help with fuel costs why not just raise the basic personal allowance ?
Speeding up asset sales and selling off the post office , Channel 4 and the BBC (along with a little extra borrowing to be offset by stringent public spending cuts the following year ) could fund giving all taxpayers a once of refund for one year only of say £500 0r £600 from April 2009 ? The extra borrowing would only last a year and if spending reductions in 2009-10 where big enough it could be fiscally neutral in 2009-10 and then tighter from 2010-11 onwards as spending continued to be cut while no further tax cuts happened untill the PSBR was wiped out . That flat rate refund would mainly benefit the least well off as they would get the biggest boost in terms of the % of extra income gained ( £600 means more to a person on £10,000 p/a than one on £100,000 p/a ). As conditions could be worse in 2009 we need a plan to slash the PSBR and the size of government to secure lasting recovery while some short term stimulus to mitigate present day woes .
Forcing the Bank of England to slash RPI -x to 2% within two years should be the new MPC target with members on non -renewable ten year terms and appointed after approval following an inquiry via the Treasury select commitee . That would help economic stability as would giving back the Bank the powers it lost in 1997 .The aim being to streamline the system and stop future bank runs . Financial regulation ought to be reformed a la the USA so it is lighter and smarter thus allowing the mortgage market to recover while stopping feckless lending . Deregulating the construction industry could help slash building costs while thwarting scams – again regulation in a modern economy for obvious reasons needs to be lighter & smarter !
Voters are sick of high taxes & rising prices and they do not like the reckless waste of public funds and the financial mess up of Northern Rock . A Tory recovery plan designed to end this melt down is needed along with reforms to upgrade transport , energy & water provision so as to boost job creation at a time of rising unemployment while providing an infrastructure needed for a modern , prosperous economy when recovery starts . Social spending & wasteful training schemes do not work – Wisconsin style welfare reforms and tax credits being replaced with a bigger personal allowance might do the trick in terms of cutting economic inactivity and lowering jobless rates . The poorer the taxpayer the more likely they are to spend cash gained from tax cuts so my stimulus plan would help hard pressed household budgets and get the high street back on track at a time of economic distress as sales fall as the economy readjusts .
mikestallard
Yes, why isn't this discussed on the BBC? The answer, at least on Newsnight, is that they are now in Southern Russia.
I do not think they have, on the whole, got a clue about economics. Before the News, there was an hour long programme on China and its pandas. The beginning was a huge hymn to Mao for making the Chinese grow wheat instead of rice and orchards (without a word about the fact that he then gave it all away so that he could go nuclear.) their naughtiness seemed to be that they took trees down and farmed land which created a dust storm. The fact that millions of peasants died was not mentioned. Trees, I presume, are much more important than distant Chinese people. (Is that, actually, a case of Liberal racism by the BBC?)
Simon Heffer in the Mail today is half way to discussing the economic crisis although he is convinced that the real enemy is now runaway inflation as the "public sector" gets to grip with increasing their own salaries at the expense of the rest of us. (Milovan Djilas and "The New Class"?)
Another little straw in the wind, I thought, was OFSTED (What a Communist word that is!) ordering children of 4 to work harder and then that awful, ferocious little girl pretending to sing at the start of the Olympics.
Funny isn't it how all Socialism is the same in the end. The pigs eventually always move into the farmer's house……
JR: "The media are still too casual,"
MartinW: "This is exactly what we should be discussed in these stark terms on the BBC."
Mikestallard: "Yes, why isn't this discussed on the BBC?"
If the next Tory government is to have any chance of success, the BBC must be 'transformed' as one of the first acts of the incoming government. A first step might be to move to a voluntary subscription basis of funding of the corporation.
Given that the BBC archive has been bought and paid for by the long suffering licence payer, the archive should be stripped from the BBC and items in it made available to the the general media for a fee. The proceeds used to maintain the archive, something the BBC has signally failed to do.
Please stop trotting out the old "currency lower, exports up" canard.
As you say yourself, we are a trading nation, so we have to import to produce. It rather cancels out.
Germany's currency appreciated vs France and the UK as far as I can remember, yet they have the largest trade surplus in the world, ahead of China. The problem is rather more simple: produce crap (leyland anyone?) and you won't sell it, cheap or otherwise. It takes years to build a reputation, and that is worth more than any currency level anywhere.
Same with interest rates. Their effect on currency level is not all it is cracked up to be, as the low level of US rates vs UK demonstrates so well at the moment with the dollar appreciating.
A low pound makes us all poorer, that is the bottom line.
I cannot descibe the rage I feel when I see Brown or any of his bunch of showers, because they are the only culprit for the situation we are in.
Worryingly, as other commenters have poited out, the tories are nowhere to be seen.
I really do not give a flying f… about a social agenda as spouted by Cameron when I know I am worth 25% less today than I was 1 year ago, let alone 10 years ago.
Bazman
What happened to the worthless Euro? A bit like the minimum wage. Huh? Idiots. Blame the BBC. Was the Mail Right? Get Some! I am well sick of you old right wing fools. 41 1/2 years old.
Reply: I am proud to have helped see off the Euro – that would have done even more damage to the UK economy.
Hi, I too am concerned about rip off Britain, but mainly with public services, particularly OFSTED, they have just compiled a damning report on my child's school. I can only say the school is fanatastic, they may not achieve the highest academic results, but turn out polite, caring, sharing and well mannered children. The teachers work really hard on the children's social skills, and basic reading, writing and sums. I would like to see an inspection on Ofsted, who are they?
I am also concerned at devaluation of the £ against the Euro, but believe that this is a government tactic to make us accept the euro as our currency in England, as soon as we do the euro will go down in value.
And the stealth taxes on so called 'global warming' are appalling, notice it is now climate change 'yes the climate changes and always has'. Funny how MPs aren't afraid and still fly their private planes, cars etc., AND PLEASE TELL ME HOW ANYONE CAN PAY FOR A CARBON FOOTPRINT!
Allow me to ask – have you actually studied the OFSTED report? I only ask because, as a retired teacher, I have seen far too many Press Releases quoting "Excellent OFSTED reports". The dear old local newspaper prints them, also without having read them.
If you take time to read the whole thing, of course it says something like: "Although the maths results have improved minimally, the teachers ought to be taken out and horsewhipped because they have still been utterly incompetent".
What appears in the local press is: "OFSTED PRAISES MATHS RESULTS."
Maybe there are some good things in the report? The only people I know who have worked for OFSTED were excellent teachers. But that, of course, was in the 1990s.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Do you ever make exceptions to the ratings minimum? Will you hold a spot for my child until he or she qualifies?
Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions nor can we hold a place for someone while he or she tries to qualify. We always fill up, and we always have players on our wait list who are just a little short of the minimum. So it wouldn't be fair to the wait list players to hold a spot for one player while not doing the same for all of them. And we cannot hold spots for everyone who is trying to meet the minimum, as that would be unfair to players who are already eligible and wish to register. Our advice is to play as much as possible and qualify as soon as possible!
Is there internet connectivity in the dorms? What about in the classrooms?
Yes, internet is available in the dorms, both wireless and ethernet. Please request a password from Emory staff when you check in. It may also help to bring an ethernet cable, as the wireless connection in the dorm can sometimes be difficult to connect to depending on your computer and what anti-virus software you have installed. In the dining hall, classrooms outside the dorm, the tournament hall, and other public areas of Emory, you may connect by wireless through "Emory Guest" without the need for a cable or a password.
Are the dorms and classrooms air-conditioned?
Yes! Dorm rooms have individual adjustable thermostats, much like hotel rooms. Classrooms and the tournament hall are occasionally overly cooled, so bringing a light jacket to camp is always a good idea.
Is there a laundry service, or laundry facilities?
Emory does not offer laundry service. There are laundry facilities for use in the dorms free of charge, and older campers who don't require supervision may use these with permission from their group counselor either during afternoon rec time or during the evening, but loads must be finished before lights out. Bring your own laundry detergent.
Why do you require a minimum USCF rating?
Having a whole group of campers that are already at a certain level allows us to take full advantage of our talented instructional staff. A week is just not very long, so rather than spending time teaching the basics, our instructors can jump right into the finer points of the game.
In addition, chess notation is like a foreign language, and our camp is a total immersion experience. If you're not fluent, it's going to be difficult for you to keep up- or worse, you might slow down the rest of the class.
There are a lot of really great camps out there for the beginning player, both day camps and overnight camps. We're looking to provide something really special for more committed, more advanced players.
What is the average playing strength of the campers?
The average rating of all campers for the past three years has been around 1700. The top group typically ranges from 2000-2300.
The timing of the camp doesn't work for us- why is your camp so early in the summer, when some schools are still in session? Can you move it?
Logistically it would be very difficult to move the camp to a different week. The Emory facilities that we use are not generally available later in the summer, and we also try to plan around other big chess tournaments and camps for the sake of our staff. We truly regret that some potential campers are still in school that week, but there are simply no better options for us for the time being.
How long has the Castle Chess program been in existence?
The original Castle Camp in Bradford, Pennsylvania was founded in 1982. The Atlanta affiliate was created in 2001 with the same philosophy and goals. In 2005, the Bradford camp folded.
What is your tax ID number and address so that I can write off the camp under the Child Care Tax Credit?
TAX ID 26-1579707, address 955 Azalea Dr, Roswell GA 30075. However, it is our understanding that the cost for overnight camps does not qualify. This notification is in no way to be construed as tax advice. Please consult a certified accountant for help on this issue, or consult the IRS website.
What about parking on campus?
Adults who plan to be on campus every day MUST request a parking pass IN ADVANCE that will allow them to park at one of the visitor parking decks on campus. Adults who only plan to come to campus occasionally in the evenings or on the weekends do not need a parking pass since the campus has open parking after 7 PM and on the weekends.
Parking passes are issued at check-in. There is no charge for these passes, although if you lose one or fail to turn it in upon check-out, you will be charged a small replacement fee.
What time do I need to arrive by, and what time should I plan to leave?
Please plan to arrive on campus between 1:30 and 3:30 on the first Sunday of camp. This is the formal check-in time for the dorm. (If you are flying, arrival time should be no later than 2:30 to allow for time to collect baggage and drive to campus.) Anybody who for any reason has to arrive earlier or later will have to make special arrangements in advance. Campers, especially first-timers, are strongly discouraged from arriving later than 4 PM. Orientation begins promptly at 4:30, which leads right into dinner, which leads right into the Evaluation Simul by the homeroom instructors. So later arrivals will have to wait until 9 PM to check into their rooms.
If you are not playing the tournament, check out is Saturday morning by 11 AM. If you are playing all five rounds of the tournament, you should not plan to leave campus any earlier than 7:00 PM on the second Sunday of camp. If you need to leave earlier than that to accommodate your travel schedule, you should take byes in one or more rounds of the tournament.
On Sunday, we advise campers to pack in the morning before going for breakfast, and they can check out anytime during the day as their tournament schedule permits.
For airport arrivals and departures, please allow for at least a one hour commute between the airport and campus. Sometimes it takes only 25 minutes to make the drive, but Atlanta traffic can be unpredictable!
What do the campers get for linens?
All campers will receive one pillow with pillowcase, one fitted sheet, one flat sheet, one medium weight blanket, two bath towels, and one washcloth. This is camp, not a hotel- nobody makes your bed for you, and you don't get fresh linens during the week. What you get at check-in is it for the whole week. Campers may choose to bring additional pillows or blankets or towels as they feel is necessary. Campers planning to swim during rec time should bring a towel to take to the pool as the dorm towels must stay in the dorm.
What is the typical age range at camp?
Age range is 10 to adult. (Adult campers are rare however- usually there are around 5, and very often they are the parents of campers.) In 2015, 57 out of our 120 campers were between 12 and 14 years old.
What about a commuter/day camper only option?
We used to have a commuter option, but starting in 2016 we became 100% residential. An exception MIGHT be made for medical reasons only- please email info@castlechess.org if you would like to ask about an exception.
How do you make the homeroom groupings? I'm underrated - can I be moved up to a higher class?
Camp is divided into groups of exactly 12 campers each by peak US Chess Federation rating achieved within the last five years. The top 12 campers are in the top group, the next 12 are in the next group, and so on down the line.
We get so many emails and phone calls from parents, coaches, and campers about moving up because they are underrated or they want a specific homeroom coach, or they want to be with a buddy. It would be unfair to honor these types of requests for some people but not all, so our rule is firm- nobody is allowed to move higher for any reason, ever.
That said, we do allow people to request to move DOWN, either to be with a friend or because they think they're not playing at their peak. The logic behind this policy is that moving someone down allows the highest camper in the group below to move up, and nobody ever complains about that opportunity. On the other hand, moving someone up means that someone else gets bumped down.
It is important to remember that Castle campers are a self-selecting group, and they tend to be highly motivated, fierce competitors and very quick with their calculations. Quite a few of them are on a steep upward trajectory, meaning lots of ratings are lagging behind campers' actual abilities. Our instructors will work to ensure that EVERY camper is challenged!
One last side note: if someone really is significantly underrated, the homeroom instructor will pick up on it in the Sunday night simul. Every once in awhile, someone is moved into a higher group after this opening event - but that is VERY rare.
Where do your campers typically come from?
Campers come from all over the US, from California to New England. In 2016, we had campers from 23 states. We also occasionally get campers from foreign countries - in 2016, we had three international campers from 3 different countries!
Can I stay in the dorm with my child?
What is the dorm like, and how are campers arranged in it?
The rooms are all double rooms, there are no triples or quads available. Rooms contain two single beds, two dressers, two desks, two closets, and one sink. Bathrooms are community-style baths in the hallways, with private shower stalls, toilet stalls, and a row of sinks.
All roommate requests that are mutual are honored.
The whole camp is in the same dorm, and we are the only people housed in that dorm for the week. Counselors sleep on every hall with the campers. The dorm floors are split up by age- Pawns Hall is the 10-11 year olds, Bishops Hall is 11-12, Knights Hall is usually mixed ages (usually sibling pairs), Rooks Hall is 13-14, and Kings are 15 and up. Adult campers are in a separate wing of the dorm, and all girls regardless of age are on Queens Hall because there just aren't that many of them. Each camper isn't more than 3-4 doors away from a counselor.
Raoul Hall also has a wing of suite style rooms with private or semi-private bathrooms. These rooms can be reserved by adult campers for an extra fee. (Adults only because these halls are not supervised by counselors. Children whose parents are also campers may stay in the same suite with their parent.) See the registration page for more information on the suites.
I have special dietary restrictions. (Food allergies/sensitivities, kosher, vegetarian/vegan, gluten-free.) Can the cafeteria accommodate me?
Absolutely. To begin with, Emory food service is nut and shellfish-free. All dishes are well-marked with symbols for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free, and the cafeteria employees are great about answering questions on ingredients whenever asked. For kosher meals and allergies where cross-contamination is a threat, we can make arrangements in advance for meals to be prepared in a special area of the kitchen, sealed, and hand-delivered to the camper for an extra cost. For more information on Emory dining, refer to http://www.emory.edu/dining/Diet_nutrition.php.
Where do I send check payments?
Can I visit my child/observe during camp?
Parents are welcome to visit and observe anytime during the day, as long as they are not disruptive and they check in with staff so we know who they are. After 9 PM, no parents are allowed in the dorm. This rule is for everyone's safety.
Some parents come to orientation on the first Sunday, and also to the awards ceremony on Friday afternoon.
If my camper is playing the tournament, how do I tell you what byes and what section?
For the tournament, can I play the 3-day schedule?
Campers under the age of 15 are automatically enrolled in the 2 day schedule. (Campers 15 or older will be asked their preference on Wednesday during camp.) With many staff members playing in the event, we simply don't have the manpower to properly chaperone them if they play the night round, as their games will all be finishing at different times, and they cannot walk alone between the playing hall and the dorm.
Given all the chess information they have absorbed throughout the week, it is often better for them to take the night off anyway just to relax with their friends. We offer them some non-chess activities that night to choose from, like Movie Night and our special twilight edition of Capture the Flag.
If a camper under 15 wants to play the 3-day, a parent or guardian can come and check the child out of camp to stay with them in a nearby hotel.


The music of Sergio Cervetti has gotten the spotlight on these pages before (type his name in the search box for previous reviews). He returns to us today with a nice kind of mini-retrospective of pieces written between 1975 and 2013, on Transits, Minimal to Mayhem (Navona 6001). Here we experience a variety of works, all of interest, from the recent piano and winds "Concertino" (2013), the orchestral "Candombe" (1996), to the piano and electronics "Exiles" (1980), the bandoneon and electronics "El Rio De Los Pajaros Pintados" (1979) and the "Guitar Music" (1975).
The music covers, as the title suggests, a movement from stylistic way-station-to-way-station. Minimalism is out front on the mesmeric, primal repetitiveness of "Guitar Music," has a more developmental flourish on "Candombe," and shifts to a sort of ethereal radical tonality on the soundscape singularities of "El Rio De Los Pajaros Pintados" and "Exiles." The final work chronologically, "Concertino," has a modern neo-classicism and a nicely developed thematic arc.
These are very worthwhile works, performed in the main quite well, but in any case some high points in Cervetti's compositional oeuvre over the past 40 years, give or take. They stand out with distinction and show us his essential qualities as melodist and colorist, his rhythmic vitality and harmonically modern sophistication.
I was taken by this anthology and will certainly come back to it to savor the originality and lively pointedness of Cervetti at his best. I recommend you hear it, too.


"Much of the animosity between the applicant and the body corporate committee has arisen following his submission to the committee of a motion to reverse contribution lot entitlements to the "pre-adjustment level". Based on advice that it had obtained from MBA Legal, the committee declined to lodge a new community management statement reflecting "pre adjustment lot entitlements". As a result, the applicant issued a number of circulars to other lot owners regarding his request for a reversion of lot entitlements.
Within bodies corporate, few issues have been more polarising than the adjustment and/ or readjustment of contribution schedule lot entitlements (CSLE's) which set the proportion each owner contributes to body corporate expenses. The Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 previously provided that in certain circumstances, an owner could apply to the District Court or a specialist adjudicator for an order to have the original entitlements adjusted. Where such an order was made, levies payable by some owners decreased while others increased.
In November 2010 the Minister for Tourism and Fair Trading introduced into parliament a bill to amend the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997. This bill was passed by parliament in early 2011 and changed the criteria for adjustment of contribution lot entitlements. These amendments also include a procedure for certain owners to seek a reversal of previous adjustment orders. Except in limited circumstances, such as where the adjustment order merely formalized an agreement made by the parties, or there has been a material change such as further subdivision, the body corporate is obliged by the legislation to lodge a new community management statement reflecting the original lot entitlements. Where such action is taken, levies payable by some owners decrease while others increase.
Given that all lot owners are members of the body corporate, it is important that they have an opportunity to air any grievances and have input into the management of the scheme. Owners often have opposing views on various matters, but in my view robust discussion and debate is an important part of body corporate decision-making. This requires that, within reason, all owners feel free to express their point of view without unreasonable threats of defamation proceedings."


When you perform research with a device that mimics the sun, you better be wearing sunglasses. Undergraduate intern Nathan Hinkle understands that because he uses a solar simulator to determine the rate at which components of crude oil are degraded by sunlight.
Oil spills, such as the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, release massive amounts of toxic chemicals into the environment. Surface clean-up cannot recover all of the oil, and a large amount of the toxins dissolve and disperse into the water column, making them impossible to visually trace. Yet, oil naturally degrades by sunlight and aquatic microorganisms.
To better understand how sunlight and bacteria degrade oil, the Aquatic Biogeochemistry and Plankton Ecology lab at CMOP, led by Dr. Joseph Needoba and Dr. Tawnya Peterson, is partnering with Wet Labs to develop improved in situ sensors for tracking oil spills. They use artificial seawater with dissolved or dispersed components of crude oil for testing. Those samples are degraded by using a solar simulator that mimics the full-spectrum of sunlight. Throughout the experiment, the samples are run on a spectrofluorometer that measures changing rate of degradation. The results will help determine the rate at which components of the oil are degraded by sunlight.


A gathering of more than 1,400 people on hand to take part in the dedication of The Johns Hopkins Hospital's new $1.1 billion, state-of-the-art facility. The ceremony marks completion of one of the nation's largest hospital construction projects, which features the Sheikh Zayed Tower and The Charlotte R. Bloomberg Children's Center. They buildings are designed to enhance every aspect of the patient experience at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and offer an array of unprecedented advancements in adult, pediatric and emergency care. Philanthropist and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, members of the United Arab Emirates' Royal Family, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, Senator Barbara Mikulski were in attendance.


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S. 881: Space Weather Research and Forecasting Act
A bill to improve understanding and forecasting of space weather events, and for other purposes.
S. 2107: Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of...
Increases the number of CBP Agriculture Specialists and support staff in the Office of Field...
H.R. 4044: Protect and Restore America's Estuaries Act
Eliminates current authorizations under current law of $26.5 million in 2020 and 2021 for the...
S. 212: Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act of 2019
Amends the Native American Business Development, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000, the Buy...
S. 1822: Broadband DATA Act
Requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change the way broadband data is collected, verified...
H.R. 886: Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019
Directs the Department of Justice to establish a Veterans Treatment Court Program to provide grants...
H.R. 1812: Vet Center Eligibility Expansion Act
Amends title 38, United States Code, to furnish Vet Center readjustment counseling and related mental...
H.R. 3399: To amend the Nutria Eradication and Control Ac...
Reauthorizes through FY2025 and revises the Nutria Eradication and Control Act of 2003, which provided...
S. 256: Esther Martinez Native American Languages Program...
Amends the Native American Programs Act of 1974 to provide flexibility and reauthorization to ensure...
H.R. 150: Grant Reporting Efficiency and Agreements Trans...
Requires the Office of Management and Budget, jointly with the executive department that issues the most...
S. 216: Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservati...
Provides for equitable compensation to the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for...
H.R. 3153: EFFORT Act
Directs the National Science Foundation to support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on the science...
H.R. 583: PIRATE Act
Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide for enhanced penalties for pirate radio, and...
H.R. 6237: PRC for Native Veterans Act
Specifies that the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense must reimburse the...
H.R. 1365: To make technical corrections to the Guam Worl...
Authorizes a portion of customs duties and federal income taxes collected in Guam to be...


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Sandra Barclay (Lima, Perú, 1967) es una arquitecta peruana ganadora del Premio Hexágono de Oro, del Premio de la Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura de Buenos Aires edición 2013, el Premio Bienal de Arquitectura Latinoamericana y el Premio CICA de Arquitectura Latinoamericana, otorgado por el Comité Internacional de Críticos de Arquitectura.

Primeros años

El hecho de que su padre fuera arquitecto y constructor, le permitió familiarizarse tempranamente con la arquitectura y ya acabando el colegio, se decidió a seguir la profesión de él. Recuerda con mucho placer los paseos cuando tenía 4 años a la obra en construcción de la casa que su padre había diseñado para su familia y asegura que esta experiencia del proceso la marcó profundamente.

Entre 1986 y 1990 estudió arquitectura en la Universidad Ricardo Palma de Lima (URP) y emigró a Francia entre 1990 y 1993 donde estudió y se graduó como arquitecta en la Escuela de Arquitectura de París-Belleville. Con su tesis obtuvo, en 1993, el Premio Robert Camelot al mejor diploma, otorgado por la Academia de Arquitectura de Francia.

De esta etapa formativa reconoce la influencia de dos grandes maestros,  de sus dos mundos y procesos proyectuales, la experiencia en el taller de Juvenal Baracco durante sus años en la URP  y sus dos años de experiencia en el taller de Henri Ciriani para obtener la equivalencia de su título peruano en París. De Juvenal Baracco reconoce haber aprendido el entusiasmo y la convicción por la profesión y por la idea de que el proyecto es siempre perfectible. Heredó también de esta etapa el trabajo sobre la volumetría a través de la construcción de maquetas, tarea que ella misma realiza luego de acordar la idea central con su socio. De Henri Ciriani reconoce haber aprendido a trabajar el espacio con rigor y la búsqueda de sus cualidades, para siempre mejorar las condiciones del hombre, como así también el trabajo desde el interior de la arquitectura, la definición de la forma del espacio, los elementos que lo componen, el estudio de la luz, las sensaciones que se logran, etc. Esta amalgama define su proceso proyectual.

Trayectoria
Al inicio de sus estudios en la URP conoció a  Jean Pierre-Crousse y ganaron juntos el segundo puesto en el Concurso Europan en la ciudad de Le Havre, el concurso para la Reestructuración del Museo de la misma ciudad y, asociados con Laurent y Emmanuelle Beaudouin, abrieron, en 1994, su oficina de arquitectura con sede en París, Barclay&Crousse Architecture.

Vivieron y trabajaron 17 años en Europa y allí nacieron sus dos hijos, hasta que la propuesta de diseñar una serie de casas en la playa peruana cambió su rumbo. En 2001 diseñaron tres casas entre la playa y el desierto, la Casa B, la Casa M y la Casa Equis, premiadas en 2004, entre otros con el  Record Houses de la revista internacional Architectural Record. A raíz de estos encargos, en 2006, decidieron trasladarse a Lima, Perú, donde fundaron la nueva sede de Barclay & Crousse Architecture, manteniendo su actividad en Francia a través de Guilhem Roustan y Jena Marc Viste, socios en el nuevo estudio parisino Atelier Nord-Sud.

En 2006 inició sus estudios de posgrado en la Maestría en Territorio y Paisaje en la Universidad Diego Portales en Chile, obteniendo su título de Máster en 2013.

Trabaja en su estudio de Lima y ejerce desde 2006 como profesora en la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú.

Reconocimientos
El trabajo de Barclay & Crousse Architecture incluye una amplia gama de programas y se centra tanto en la relación con el paisaje y el bienestar humano a través de la pertinencia de su uso, el espacio y la luz. El objetivo de su trabajo es mejorar el entorno natural y construido con un enfoque racional y sostenible, en el que el ser humano es un tema central. Su trabajo ha sido reconocido, entre otros, con el Premio CICA a la Arquitectura Latinoamericana 2013 por el Museo de la Memoria en Lima, otorgado por el Comité Internacional de Críticos de Arquitectura y con el Premio Bienal de Arquitectura Latinoamericana 2013 en la XV Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura de Buenos Aires. En 2014 fueron nominados Premio Mies Crown Hall Americas por el Lugar de la Memoria (2014) y la Casa Equis (2003) dos de sus proyectos más premiados.

Recibió el Premio Hexágono de Oro en la XVI Bienal de Arquitectura Peruana realizada en 2014 y el Premio Oscar Niemeyer 2016 por el Lugar de la Memoria, realizado junto a Jean Pierre Crousse.

Obtuvieron por segunda vez el Hexágono de Oro en 2018, por el Aulario E de la Universidad de Piura.

En 2018 fue elegida Woman Architect of the Year, premio otorgado por The Architectural Review y The Architects' Journal.

En el 2019, fue elegida Doctor Honoris Causa por la Universidad de Piura.

Referencias

Enlaces externos

 Barclay&Crousse. Sitio oficial.

Nacidos en Lima
Arquitectas de Perú
Mujeres del siglo XX
Peruanos del siglo XX
Peruanos del siglo XXI
Opositores al gobierno de Alberto Fujimori
Doctores honoris causa por la Universidad de Piura

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


27,039 steps later we have officially had another full day of touring Tokyo. Thankfully, today was a breeze compared to yesterday. The hardest thing we went through today was finding a place to eat lunch. This morning we let ourselves sleep in and just relax a bit before we headed out; we didn't leave the hotel until about 10:30. Once we finally left the hotel we grabbed a quick bite to eat at the bottom of the building and then headed to the train station. Thankfully, the train station is directly across from our hotel so there wasn't room to get lost. This morning the train seemed like a complete walk in the park because we didn't have our huge 65-liter backpacks on. We rode the train from Shinjuku, where we are staying, to Shibuya, which are two of the districts in Tokyo. When we got to Shibuya we went shopping for a few hours and really just tried to take in the atmosphere of the district. We were in Shibuya last night and a lot was happening, but we couldn't believe that it was still so popping this morning. After exploring and shopping in Shibuya we decided to walk to Harajuku, which is the third district of Tokyo. It was only a 10-15 minute walk from the center of Shibuya to the center of Harajuku. There was a lot going on in between the two and it was a safe area so we decided to walk. We stopped in little shops a long the way and really just enjoyed the excitement that comes along with trying to navigate through a new country. Harajuku is a really hip district known for being fashionable and filled with young people. It was really fun exploring Harajuku because it was like it's own little town in the middle of a huge city; it was probably my favorite part of Tokyo that we visited. We spent the majority of the afternoon just exploring Harajuku and trying to find a place to eat. What we didn't know was that whenever the restaurants in Harajuku sell out of food they just close their doors and are done, at least until dinnertime. We weren't really hungry when we first got to the district so we would walk by a place and agree to eat there later, but when it came time to eat nothing was open. As we began to realize nothing was open everyone started to get a little "hangry". After a few "hangry" comments we decided to make getting food our number one priority. We ended up walking around Harajuku for like 15 more minutes until we finally found a little hole in the wall restaurant that was still open. I am so happy we waited so long to eat because had we not we would have never found this place. The restaurant we ate at was absolutely delicious. Most of our friends got a rice bowl, but Rebecca and I decided to split a rice bowl and Japanese pancakes. The pancakes were so thick, but not dry. They came with flavored whip cream on top and on a beautifully garnished plate. I could not believe how delicious the food was. Although we didn't eat until almost 4:30, it was absolutely positively worth the wait. After our scrumptious late lunch we decided to head back to our hotel for a quick power nap and relaxation time before heading out again, and I'm so happy we did. After our naps and time we took to chill out it was time for dinner. We got really lucky with the hotel we are staying at because the train station and great food options are literally at the intersection of the bottom of our building. We ate at a really authentic Japanese sushi place and it was super great. We ordered the legitimate Japanese sushi where all the fish was raw and some of it was good and some of it I could have gone without. I'm really happy we went there though because we definitely go the authentic Japanese experience. After dinner we grabbed some green tea ice cream; they seem to sell everything green tea here. They offer everything from green tea kit kats to little green tea snack crackers. From what we've tried, they're all pretty good. After our meal and dessert we walked around town and tried to continue taking in the atmosphere Japan has to offer. Japan has been super different than what we expected, but also super fun. Tomorrow we will spend the morning in Tokyo and then head to Kobe in the afternoon. I never thought I would be dreaming of being on the ship, but I must admit that I am super excited about being back on the ship again tomorrow evening.


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Roots Trails: Little India Heritage Trail
Behind all the vibrant colours, irresistible food, and diverse communities and culture that it's famous for, the Little India precinct holds many little-known stories since its early beginnings. Besides marvelling at the sights and sounds of these historic places, we meet with locals and 'lim kopi' with the Trail Expert to uncover the significance of this well-loved precinct.
Eye in the Sky - Thian Hock Keng and Singapore Yu Huang Gong
The ninth episode of NHB's "Eye in the Sky" series is a collaboration with Mr Ang Yik Han and Mr Victor Yue, and uses aerial videography to showcase the intricate ornaments and carvings found on the walls, ceilings and roofs of Thian Hock Keng and Singapore Yu Huang Gong.
HistoriaSG Public Lecture Series 2017 : Lecture I (The Singapore Contemporary and Contemporary Art in Singapore)
The lecture by Professor C.J. Wee Wan-ling looked at how contemporary art in Singapore relates to the socio-political context within which it functions.
Roots.sg Presents: The Move
The painting that depicts a view of Singapore from Mount Wallich is temporarily moved from its home at the National Museum of Singapore to the Asian Civilisations Museum for its special exhibition, "Port Cities: Multicultural Emporiums of Asia". Hear from the curators about the significance of this painting.
Eye in the Sky - Dakota Crescent Estate
The eighth episode of NHB's "Eye in the Sky" series uses aerial videography to capture the unique layout, open spaces and key features of the Dakota Crescent estate.
Roots.sg Presents: Amoy & Fuzhou: A History in Paintings
Amoy and Fuzhou, the subjects of many late 19th century Chinese export paintings, make up a fair bit of Singapore's history. What did these three places/provinces have in common for a shared past?
Eye in the Sky - Yueh Hai Ching Temple
The seventh episode of NHB's "Eye in the Sky" series is a collaboration with Mr Ang Yik Han and Mr Victor Yue, and uses aerial videography to showcase the features, figures and tableaus found on local Chinese temple Yueh Hai Ching's roof, walls, columns and beams.
Roots.sg Presents: The Hongs of Canton
Retrace the history of trade between China and the West through intricate paintings on the 'hong bowl'.
Roots.sg Presents: The Mythical Origins of Singapura
There are many mysteries surrounding the Kingdom of Singapura. Connect the dots as we retrace history to unravel 'The Mythical Origins of Singapura'.
Installation of Bukit Brown Cemetery Gates
This short documentary captures the relocation of the four free-standing gate columns and the installation of the Bukit Brown Cemetery gates. It is the concluding video in a three-part series documenting the refurbishment of the gates.


Are You Looking For Air Duct Cleaning Service In Aurora, CO?
Our owner was born and raised in Colorado and is dedicated to providing the best level of service possible to the state he calls home. When you work with Mile High Air Duct and Carpet Cleaning, you become part of our family and to us, family is this most important thing.
Our work is completed by certified, friendly, and professional technicians that use the latest and best truck mounted cleaning units. Our deep extraction cleaning method and cutting-edge equipment will clean your home better than the manual wand most companies use and will clean your carpets as deeply as possible.
We are committed to developing long-lasting relationships with our customers, built on trust, professionalism, and excellent customer service.
Your carpets are filled with pet dander and your air ducts are contaminated with dust and dirt, but they don't have to stay that way. Breathe a little easier with Mile High Air Duct & Carpet Cleaning handling your air duct cleaning or carpet cleaning project.
Our owner gained experience cleaning air ducts for another company before establishing Mile High Air Duct & Carpet Cleaning in the Aurora, CO area.
If you're worried about the air in your home or office, make an appointment by calling 720-216-4505.
We were established with the goal of providing top-notch carpet cleaning, dryer venter cleaning, furnace cleaning and air duct cleaning services. You'll be hard-pressed to find better service anywhere else in the Aurora, CO area.
Mile High Air Duct & Carpet Cleaning is a proud vendor for some of the largest home builders in Colorado including Thrive Home Builders, Oakwood Homes and William Lyon Homes. Those company owners have all trusted us for exceptional service, and we've delivered. Now it's your turn.
Schedule a consultation with Mile High Air Duct & Carpet Cleaning today. We serve residents in Aurora, CO and the surrounding Denver Metro area.
At Mile High Air Duct & Carpet Cleaning, we know you don't want to drain your bank account for dryer vent cleaning, carpet cleaning or air duct cleaning. That's why we offer competitive prices on all of our services.
If you've been searching for air duct cleaning or carpet cleaning services, look no further than Mile High Air Duct & Carpet Cleaning. Tell us about your project in Aurora, CO and surrounding areas right away.
When you choose Mile High Air Duct and Carpet Cleaning, you become a part of our family. Our owner was born and raised in Colorado and works hard to deliver a superior level of service to residents of the state he calls home.
Our certified, friendly technicians use the latest truck-mounted cleaning units. We also use cutting-edge equipment and proven deep extraction cleaning methods to clean your home better than the competition.
Get in touch with us today to learn why home and business owners in and around Aurora, CO turn to us for air duct cleaning services again and again.


DWF3651B | Toronto Comfort Zone Inc.
The dazzling Nicole Wall-mount Fireplace provides a modern touch to any decor. Either hung on a wall, or standing on a table, Nicole is perfectly versatile with flames that dance amongst the diamond-like acrylic ice ember bed, sparkling in up to 7 different colorful themes. Two easy to use support feet are included offering another way to display your fireplace.


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Start small, scale fast: why DTC brands are growing thanks to data
By Tom Wallis, chief marketing officer at Gousto2019-11-11T15:37:00+00:00
Source: Getty
Thanks to the curation and personalisation of DTC, customers tend to trust that they are being given meaningful choice
There's no doubt direct to consumer (DTC) brands have impacted how people shop. Recent research from IAB UK, the industry body for digital advertising, identifies 50 of the leading DTC brands in the UK and surveyed 2,000 shoppers across Britain, highlighting some of the marketing techniques that such companies use to grow their brands.
The 'Born Online' report shows that 39% of the UK online population has purchased from at least one DTC brand, with 10% having bought from at least five. This illustrates the opportunity for challengers to enter and disrupt the traditional retail landscape.
It's not exclusively younger consumers that seem to favour new upstarts, either: the report shows that 9% of DTC customers are over 65 years old and, at Gousto, almost two thirds (65%) of our customers are aged 35 or over. Early adopters drive initial demand, but this coupled with their tendency to proactively share their experiences with friends and family then further fuels growth.
Many of the trends highlighted in the report resonated with us. We produce delivery recipe kits, and we wanted to diversify choice and reshape how people buy and prepare meals. To this end, the immediacy of digital channels to build relationships with customers that are genuine and inclusive, and where people's feedback is heard, was massively beneficial.
By employing a test and learn approach to optimise customer acquisition, marketing can evolve. Gousto's early efforts were primarily performance driven, but we now consider brand building at the top of the funnel, too. This means that, while maintaining a strong digital presence, we can develop TV and OOH campaigns to spread awareness further.
A key benefit of operating in the DTC space is this ability to start small and scale fast. With limited investment at the beginning, we were nevertheless able to access a huge amount of data from customers that allowed us to quickly improve and drive a virtuous circle of referral and recommendation.
One thing that DTC brands have in common is this direct relationship with their end users. It allows for powerful curation, recommendation and personalisation that means customers tend to trust that they are being given meaningful choice.
This is a massive advantage, since, with customers living ever more busy lives, it's important that brands help make things easy for them to find and get what they need. Our automated factory, for instance, is able to pick over 90,000 different combinations of meals from our menu each week.
In the early days, our strategy was to capture demand from early adopters, building up a customer base which we could learn from and which would drive referrals. As we grew, increasing revenue allowed us to invest into more marketing channels. Today, in our third phase, investment into above-the-line advertising is growing. But underpinning all of this has been a focus on improving retention through communications, experience and product improvements.
The nature of DTC means that marketing teams enjoy enviable access to customer data. This, in turn, can form a habit for optimisation in company culture. Whilst established fmcg brands may not have this advantage, there is an opportunity to build a similar culture of speed and experimentation – one which will soon be a need-to-have rather than nice-to-have.
It's important to empower teams with direct access to data in this way, placing resources and expertise on hand to derive insights from it, and respond. Ensuring that the organisation is structured to support this rapid approach via close collaboration with technology, operations, finance and customer care is critical to any brand today.
Go Ahead goes easy as it pours scorn on health trends
Go Ahead's new ads simultaneously poke fun at health trends, while attempting to promote healthier eating
M&S shoppers targeted by 'free groceries' scam on Facebook
The scam has been published by a fake Facebook page called 'M&S shop'
How will Covid shape food and drink trends in 2021?
Will we see a return to normal, or will shoppers persist with the new habits they formed under lockdown?
More Marketing
Coca-Cola puts inspirational messages on cans as part of 'Open To Better' campaign
The push is designed to "inspire people to embrace change and pledge to do things differently in 2021"
Persistence pays off-a-bix for Weetabix
Weetabix has doubled – nay, tripled – down on its policy of adding the suffix 'a-bix' to just about anything
Profiles and Q&As
How Coca-Cola, George the Poet and 72andSunny created 2020's most effective ad campaign
Emiliano Trierveiler of 72andSunny Amsterdam reveals how the agency went about striking a tone just right for the times


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La médaille du jubilé de diamant de Victoria est une médaille commémorative frappée en 1897 au Royaume-Uni pour fêter le jubilé de diamant de Victoria, célébrant le  de l'accession au trône de la reine.

Éligibilité

La médaille est remise aux personnes impliquées dans les festivités du jubilé de diamant de la reine Victoria, ainsi qu'à certains participants militaires.

Description

La médaille est faite d'or pour les membres de la Famille royale britannique (73 médailles), en argent pour les officiers ou gens avec statut similaire (3 040 médailles), puis en bronze pour les autres participants (890 médailles). Elle mesure 30 mm de diamètre. Sur la face, on trouve le portrait de la reine avec le texte en latin : VICTORIA D.G. REGINA ET IMPERATRIX F.D.. Au revers, il est inscrit : IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 60TH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA · 20 JUNE 1897. La médaille est conçue par Clemens Emptmayer, avec le portrait de la reine réalisé par Sir Joseph Edgar Boehm.

Autres versions

Il existe deux autres versions de la médaille du jubilé de diamant :
 Une en forme de losange destinée aux maires et prévôts. En or pour les lords-maires et les lords-prévôts (14 médailles) et en argent pour les autres (512 médailles), à travers le Royaume-Uni.
 Une version spéciale, en bronze, pour les policiers ayant participé aux festivités du jubilé (10 086 médailles) : Médaille de police du jubilé de diamant.

Les autres pays membres de l'Empire britannique vont frapper chacun leur propre médaille.

Notes et références

Voir aussi

Articles connexes
 Victoria (reine)
 Jubilé de diamant

Liens externes

Monarchie britannique
Décoration civile britannique
Victoria (reine)


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Home › Uncategorized › Iran and P5+1 Reach Landmark Deal: What Does It Include?
Iran and P5+1 Reach Landmark Deal: What Does It Include?
Following much anticipation, Iran and the P5+1 states (the United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China and Germany) announced on Tuesday morning Vienna time the reaching of a landmark deal on Iran's nuclear deal.
1. Removal of a wide host of EU sanctions and secondary U.S. sanctions that can punish third country companies for trading with Iran.
2. Delisting of many Iranian entities, including a large number of banks.
3. Allowing the sale of US civilian aircraft to Iran and related services.
4.. Allowing the importation of certain Iranian luxury goods (like caviar, rugs, and pistachios – items whose importation was prohibited under the 2010 Comprehensive Iran Sanctions Accountability and Divestment Act of 2010, aka CISADA).
Although most U.S. sanctions limiting business activities by U.S. persons with Iran remain in place, areas already authorized by law (such as certain food, medicine, medical device, agricultural and IT sales) will very likely be made easier due to more third country companies entering the logistics fields (eg, banking, shipping, etc.) And many Iranian entities being delisted.
Notably, the laws have not yet fully changed and the relief will be phased in. As such, compliance should be at the forefront of all businesses' minds. The sanctions are far from gone, but today's accord is a formidable step towards Iran's economic reintegration with the rest of the world.
This is of course just a sample of the potential sanctions relief granted Iran. I will write more on this in due course.
‹ [When] will the sanctions be undone?


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Robert Emmet (Dublín, 4 de marzo de 1778-Dublín, 20 de septiembre de 1803) era un nacionalista irlandés cabecilla de la rebelión de 1803, por la que fue detenido, juzgado y ejecutado.

Emmet nació en Dublín, Irlanda en 1778. Su padre sirvió como cirujano al Señor Teniente de Irlanda y a los miembros de la Familia Real británica en su visita a Irlanda, pero a pesar de su posición privilegiada en la sociedad irlandesa Emmet, como muchos de sus contemporáneos, fue atraído a la política revolucionaria republicana.

Inicia su educación en el Trinity College de Dublín, momento en el que se incorpora a la sociedad patriótica denominada Sociedad de irlandeses Unidos. Este grupo inicialmente hacía campaña parlamentaria para la reforma y el fin de la discriminación religiosa contra los católicos (aunque Emmet y muchos irlandeses eran protestantes). Sin embargo, la sociedad fue prohibida tras la declaración de guerra entre los revolucionarios franceses y los británicos en 1793. Es a partir de este año cuando la sociedad se vio obligada a pasar a la clandestinidad y dedicar sus esfuerzos a la consecución de la independencia irlandesa con ayuda francesa. En 1798 se inicia la rebelión pero es frustrada y muchos de sus miembros se ven obligados a huir a Francia.

Thomas Addis Emmet, hermano de Robert Emmet, era un alto funcionario de la sociedad de los irlandeses Unidos y tuvo que huir a Francia para escapar de la persecución por traición. La rebelión de 1798 fue aplastada pero Emmet y otros buscaron exilio en Francia, uniéndose a los grupos de revolucionarios emigrados a París.

En 1802 durante un breve período de calma en las guerras napoleónicas, Emmet se unió a la delegación irlandesa para pedir el apoyo de Napoleón. Sin embargo, la delegación regresó sin éxito.

Rebelión

Cuando se renovó el conflicto europeo, en mayo de 1803, Emmet regresó a Irlanda y, junto con otros revolucionarios como Thomas Russell y James Hope, se prepara para iniciar una nueva rebelión. Emmet comenzó a fabricar armas y explosivos en una serie de locales de Dublín e incluso innovó un sistema para ocultarlos con una bisagra.

Al contrario que en 1798, los preparativos para el levantamiento se ocultaron con éxito, hasta que una explosión prematura en uno de los sistemas de depósitos de Emmet mató a un hombre y Emmet se vio obligado a adelantar la fecha de la revuelta antes de que este hecho despertara las sospechas de las autoridades.

Emmet no pudo conseguir la ayuda de los rebeldes de Wicklow liderados por Michael Dwyer y muchos rebeldes de Kildare que habían llegado tuvieron que regresar debido a la escasez de armas de fuego que se les había prometido, pero la rebelión siguió adelante estallando en Dublín en la noche del 23 de julio de 1803.

El hecho de no aprovechar la poca vigilancia del Castillo de Dublín, que se contenía una ligera guardia, el motín se dirigió hacia la zona de la calle Thomas. El Señor Presidente del Tribunal Supremo de Irlanda, Señor Kilwarden, que fue el fiscal principal en el juicio a  William Orr en 1797, sino también el juez que concedió el habeas corpus a Wolfe Tone en 1798, fue arrastrado de su transporte y asesinado a machetazos. Emmet personalmente fue testigo de que se desmontó a un soldado de su caballo y se le dio muerte en el suelo, esta visión le llevó a cancelar la rebelión a fin de evitar más derramamiento de sangre.

En su huida se refugió en la casa de  John Philpot Curran, otro nacionalista irlandés.

Muerte

Tras ser detenido es juzgado y acusado de traición. Es condenado a morir en la horca. El 20 de septiembre de 1803 es ahorcado en Dublín..

Emmet se escondió pero el 25 de agosto fue apresado cerca de Harold´s cross cerca del emplazamiento en dónde vivía su amada Sarah Curran.

El 19 de septiembre fue juzgado, reparando la Corona las deficiencias en su caso con el pago de 200 libras y una pensión al abogado defensor Leonard Macnally. Su asistente en el juicio Peter Burrowes no se dejó comprar y abogó el caso lo mejor que podía.

Tras ser condenado, Emmet pronunció un discurso, llamado el Speech from the Dock, que es especialmente recordado por su cierre de la sentencia y aseguró su fama póstuma entre los republicanos irlandeses ejecutados. Sin embargo, no hay versión definitiva escrita por el mismo Emmet.

Una versión del discurso anterior fue publicado en 1818, en una biografía sobre el padre de Sarah, John Curran, haciendo hincapié en que el epitafio Emmet se escribe en la reivindicación de su carácter, y no específicamente cuando Irlanda ocupe su lugar como nación. Está cerrado:

El 20 de septiembre de Emmet fue ejecutado en la horca y siendo decapitado en Thomas Street. Los restos fueron enterrados en secreto. El paradero de sus restos ha seguido siendo un misterio. Se sospecha que había sido enterrado en secreto en la bóveda de una iglesia anglicana de Dublín. Cuando la bóveda fue inspeccionado en la década de 1950, se encontró un cadáver sin cabeza que no pudo ser identificado, pero se sospecha que son los restos de Emmet. En la década de 1980 la iglesia se transformó en un club nocturno y todos los ataúdes se retiraron de la bóveda.

Legado

Aunque la rebelión de Emmet fue un completo fracaso, este se convirtió en una figura heroica en la historia irlandesa. Su discurso desde el banquillo de los acusados es ampliamente citado y recordado, sobre todo entre los nacionalistas irlandeses. El ama de llaves de Emmet, Anne Devlin, también es recordada en la historia irlandesa por soportar la tortura sin dar información a las autoridades.
Robert Emmet escribió una carta desde su celda en la cárcel de Kilmainham, Dublín, el 8 de septiembre de 1803. La carta fue dirigida a «Miss Sarah Curran, el Priorato, Rathfarnham», y fue entregada a un funcionario de prisiones, George Dunn, en quien confiaba para estos servicios. Dunn le traicionó y dio la carta a las autoridades del gobierno, una acción que casi le costó la  vida a Sarah Curran.

Su intento de ocultarse cerca de Sarah Curran, que le costó la vida, y su partida a su carta lo convirtió en un personaje romántico, que en la época del romanticismo de la época victoriana prolongó su fama.

Su historia se convirtió en el tema de la etapa de los melodramas durante el siglo XIX.

El hermano mayor de Robert Emmet, Thomas Addis Emmet tuvo que emigrar a los Estados Unidos poco después de la ejecución de Robert y eventualmente sirvió como fiscal general del estado de Nueva York.

Descendientes suyos son sus los destacados retratistas de América Móvil Lydia Emmet, Rosina Emmet Sherwood, de Glehn Emmet Jane Ellen y Emmet Rand. Sobrino era el dramaturgo americano Robert Emmet Sherwood.

Enlaces externos

Revolucionarios ejecutados
Ejecutados por traición
Ahorcados
Historia contemporánea de Irlanda
Políticos de Irlanda del siglo XVIII
Políticos de Irlanda del siglo XIX
Nacidos en Dublín
Fallecidos en Dublín


The people of Israel have been exiled, and their pain runs deep, but they kept faith and also worked hard for justice in their own corners of the world. We also may endure hard times, but we are to still be active in God's mission of mercy, justice, and peace as we await the coming of our Savior!
Habakkuk cannot bear the injustice he sees in the world, with seemingly no relief in sight. Where is God when one needs a swift and almighty solution? We might well ask the same.
In what ways is your community in exile? Where do you feel your community is isolated from God? Where do you feel it is close to God?
When has your faith in God been tested? In what ways have your beliefs changed as you learn and grow?
How can you stand out as a sign of God's promise to those around you?
PRAY: God, we are sometimes impatient for you to act according to your vision for the earth. Give us wisdom to see your will unfolding, and boldness to be a part of your solution. In Jesus' name, Amen.
BLESS: May God lift you up on sad days. Amen.


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Critical of Capitalism
Home | Neoliberalism | ABC OF SOCIALISM--Prof Leo Huberman | Capitalistic Greed Exposed Through Big Pharma | EINSTEIN DEFENDS SOCIALISM | Questions concerning socialism--Professor Huberman's answers | MONOPOLY CAPITAL, explained by 2 university professors | MONOPOLY CAPITAL AT THE TURN OF THE MILLENNIUM | COMMUNIST MANIFESTO, Karl Marx & Fredrick Engels | Capitalism, the Absurd System--Bellamy & McChesney | Pigs at the Trough--Arianna Huffington's book on corporate democracy | Venezuelan participatory democracy | U.S. Aggression Against Cuba | George Bernard Shaw's book on Socialism--a chapter | George Bernard Shaw on Socialism, another chapter | WHY I AM A SOCIALIST--WILLIAM MORRIS | Imperialism and Globalization--Monthly Review Press | What's Wrong With Capitalism--by JK | ECONOMIC DEPRESSION, five likely causes | THE INTERNATIONALE (song) | Indonesia, the Massacre of Socialist | Xenophon: A Greek dialogue discussing socialism | LINKS
ECONOMIC DEPRESSION, five likely causes
There is an inherent instability in the capitalist system. Almost every year there is a crash with a government defaulting on its payments. In the last decade, Mexico, Argentina (Nov. 02, $805M), Russia, Ivory Coast (June 04 on $700M), and several Asian nations in 98. What follows are predictions for 05, followed by 5 economic wild-cards that could bring on a recession or worse. Vital also to such understanding is the economic stats that follow. Capitalism is inherently unstable and exploitative.
Economic Downturn 05, Likely Causes
Predictions for 05, a survey of 60 forecasters:
1. GDP growth of 3.5%
2. Profits grow by 6.7%
3. Oil to slip to $39/barrel by year's end
4. Fed Reserve to raise fed fund rates from 2.25% to 3.5%
5. 10-yearTreasury bonds will increase form 4.3% to 5.1%
6. Dollar lose about 10% value against major currencies
FIVE NEGATIVE ITEMS THAT COULD THROW THESE PREDICTIONS OFF:
A. Dollar collapse: growing concern for US ability to attract foreign capital to finance both private and public investments. The effect of high budget deficit subtracts from domestic savings (and thus investing) and the huge trade deficit also adds to financing needs. This dependence on foreign financing reducing confidence in the US economy (in 85-87 the dollar fell 49% against major currencies, Treasury bonds increased 2%, and stock prices fell 30%. A falling dollar would especially effect US corporate bonds (held 50% by foreign investors).
B. Oil rise would slow consumer demand, and this would under mine business and consumer confidence.
C. Inflation, both rising oil and falling dollar make consumer goods more expensive (inflation). China would thus revaluate their currency higher, thus increasing inflation. High inflation makes existing bonds unattractive and new one must be offered at a higher rate.
D. Housing bubble: higher interest rates of 2% could bust the housing bubble, and deflating price deflates household wealth, and so on.
E. Global economy: Euro is weighed down by currency appreciation, and both Euro and Japan are experiencing a slow down of economic growth, and increasing Arab violence would erode business and consumer confidence.
Economic data, various sources
Today's news stated that in the last year job increased in San Diego county by 15,000 and for the state of California by 43,000. Actually unemployment must have increased for more than 43,000 people who had been gainfully employed had mov3ed to California. And what of the gain from those finishing their schooling?
Stats on corporate crime, Citizen works, Ralph Nader
Health care, $100 billion, estimate from Government Accounting Office.
Trade violations $250 billion annually, Prof. Francis Cullen, U. of Cincinnati, Criminal Justice Dept.
Burglary, larceny, motor vehicle, & arson, under $18 billion, FBI for 2002.
66,971 job-related injury and occupational disease deaths (doesn't include deaths of non-employees due to pollution, tainted foods, and like), 1992, Professor J. Paul Leigh.
Enron Corporation fraud and bankruptcy cost investors, pensioners, and employees $60 billion.
STATS ON DEFICATE FINANCING & CHANGES IN US ECONOMY:
Trade deficit for, 4/04, $48.3 billion,
Manpower output up 3% per year from 95-03—SR
Foreign investors hold 43% of all U.S> Treasury debt, 25% of corporate paper, 12% U.S. equities—SR
U.S. consumer, business, government savings after allowances for depreciation of existing investment is 1-2% of GDP for 03-4; average for 1960-1999 was 7.5%--SR
Current Account Deficit (What foreigners earn on U.S. investments minus what U.S> garners from foreign investments is $660B, or nearly 6% of the GDP, thus consuming 80% of the world's saving surplus annually. (A 5% reading is normally enough to trigger an IMF intervention.—SR
In 2003 deficit of $2.7T; in 1980 a surplus of $360B.—SR
Future signs:
Drop in capacity-enhancing spending, down in 03 60% from the 00 high. This entail a slowing of expansion and thus a less attractive investment for foreign countries.
The $150 billion for corporate subsidies and tax benefits eclipses the annual budget deficit of $130 billion. It's more than the $145 billion paid out annually for the core programs of the social welfare state: Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), student aid, housing, food and nutrition, and all direct public assistance (excluding Social Security and medical care)."
"After World War II, the nation's tax bill was roughly split between corporations and individuals. But after years of changes in the federal tax code and international economy, the corporate share of taxes has declined to a fourth the amount individuals pay, according to the US Office of Management and Budget." --Boston Globe series on Corporate Welfare, 1996
$521 billion federal deficit, estimate Common Cause, Vol. IX, No. 21, May 28, 2004.
Social Security is a fairly simple system to administer, both for the government and for employers. Social Security spends less than 2 cents of every dollar on administrative costs. A system of privatized accounts, however, would be quite different. Privatized accounts would place massive burdens on employers and the government – and they could never be administered successfully. The fees on the accounts, meanwhile, could soak up 40% of the value of the investment, reducing benefits while providing a huge wind to Wall Street.,
http://ourfuture.org/issues_and_campaigns/socialsecurity/index.cfm
Every day corporations and other wealthy special interests pump another $2 million into the coffers of our elected officials in Washington ad their party committees. For their money they get an estimated $160 billion a year in tax breaks, subsidies, and other sweet deals. That's $160 billion lifted from taxpayers' pockets—or about $1500 per taxpayer per year.
http://www.publicampaign.org/publications/index.htm
During the second quarter of 2003, when the war in Iraq was in full swing, some 60 per cent of the 3.3 per cent GDP growth rate was attributable to military spending.
The Bush deficit has not yet reached Reaganesque proportions (it stands at roughly 4.5 per cent of GDP). But Professor Pollin, for one, predicts that the resulting debt burden could rapidly rise to the levels seen in the 1980s, with interest repayments eating up as much as 18-19 per cent of the overall federal budget.
THE OIL STATS & THE CRUNCH
Gasoline taxes average 43¢/gal
US consumer 25% of the world's supply, though it is 5% of the population, about 3 gals/person/day.
Production is ½ of 1970's.
North Sea, North Slope of Alaska are in decline.
Consumption 02 (millions of barrels: US 7,191, Japan 1,935, China 1935, Russia 985, Germany 949
3.2% increase 04, predicted 1.7 for 05
China added 2M cars in 03, up 70% from 02,
US consumption 80B barrels, of which 2/3 is for fuel.
Business SUV deduction of up to $10,000
In 1981 oil was above $70/barrel in 2004 dollars, by the mid 80s it dropped to less than $25/barrel.
The new deep-water Gulf filed has an estimated 25B barrels, another almost as large field is in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Canadian shale oil cover 15,000 sq miles, equals 1.6 trillion baralles, but yields only 1 barrel for every two twon of deposit.
Gasoline costs $1.57/ gal
.43 tax,
.75 crude oil,
.24 refining,
.15 distribution & marketing.
Additional costs $2.44/gal
1.00 traffic congestion (time and wasted fuel),
.40 pollution (effects upon respiratory health),
.12 leaky oil from refineries & distribution centers.
.80 traffic accidents
.12 effects of disruption in supply on economy
Total costs $4.01
National Geographic, The End of Cheap Oil,6/04, p. 97.
(Consider how much more surplus money would be in the pockets of each citizen of this country--and the world--how much cleaner the air would be, and how much more steel and petroleum there would be if mass transit was fully developed and utilized.)
Philosophy teaches the skills to see how the world ought to be. Mathematics is the Queen for science, and logical analysis the Queen for skepticism.


Theodora Children's Charity was founded by two brothers, in memory of their mother Theodora Poulie. When one of Theodora's sons was hospitalised for many months as a child, she brought joy, laughter and storytelling to his bedside through her regular visits. Theodora inspired her sons to bring magical moments to all sick and disabled children.
Our financial year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Our annual report and accounts are prepared by an independent auditor and approved by the trustees.
The Theodora Children's Charity is governed by a board of trustees who volunteer their time, skills and expertise. Our trustees come from a range of backgrounds which include finance, communication, operational risk & management.


All should be transformed into a source of wisdom and compassionate living.
headstrong bouquet is more gong than harp.
I would know it anywhere.
and my heart clangs like a bell.
I try to fall away. I try to disappear.
I try to hurl my discontent into the cloudy river.
And the river says What? to me.
And I do not know what. Don't understand why.
Confused about how as well.
when he shows me a strange swirl in the sandstone.
I just do not know. I don't know. I don't know.
but it's not everything, and I can't help but wonder what I miss.


Our family portrait session has 3 steps, which are all equally important to us and to you. We think our service is not only to take photographs. Our goal is to create memorable time and memorable art for your family. During the photo shoot, we keep in mind how photographs are going to be used such as hanging on the wall on an entry way of your house, making album for your family, holiday cards and so on. These elements are important for us to know so that we can visualize how we should capture images including vertical/horizontal images, color theme, etc.
Family portrait session includes pre-consultation, a photo session, post production and the final presentation. The photo session fee is $200. We offer a la cart menu so that you can select products of your choice.
Pre-consultation goes anywhere between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
What you would like as an outcome such as wall art for your living room, kids bedrooms, and albums to gift to your family.
What to wear. We want to make sure that we have the best outfits selected for you so that you will look fabulous and it enhances the outcome.
Style of photographs such as candid, posed and all of the above!
Plan the photo session date as well as the final presentation date.
Based on the discussion, I propose the custom package curated just for you.
Photo session goes anywhere between 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour.
The photo session will be taken place in the location you select. It can be your favorite park, your backyard and/or inside of your house.
The final presentation goes anywhere between 1 to 1 1/2 hour. The final presentation is normally within 2 weeks after the photo session.
This is when we review all the beautiful images that we produce from the photo session. We present approximately 50-70 images for you to choose from. Once you select your favorites, we discuss the products during a pre-consultation meeting. Here are for some most popular items.


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Daniel Day Lewis Says He's Quitting Acting For Good
June 20, 2017 admin Celebrity Gossip, Fashion 0
Oscar-winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from show business.
The 60-year-old said through his publicist that this was a "private decision," and declined to elaborate further.
"Daniel Day-Lewis will no longer be working as an actor," publicist Leslee Dart said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject."
Variety was first to report the news.
Day-Lewis's last film was 2012's Lincoln, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
The British-born actor has one final film, Phantom Thread, set for release this year. The movie, based on the 1950s London fashion industry, is directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, who also directed the star's Oscar-winning turn in There Will Be Blood.
Since 2002, Day-Lewis has filmed only six movies: Gangs of New York, The Ballad of Jack and Rose, There Will Be Blood, Nine, Lincoln, and Phantom Thread.
He also won an Oscar for 1989's My Left Foot, making him the only man to ever win three best actor Academy Awards.
This is a developing news story. Check back for updates or follow BuzzFeed News on Twitter.
Dave Chappelle Will Host Rihanna's Diamond Ball; Kendrick Lamar To Perform
Can You Guess These "Steven Universe" Songs Based On The Lyrics?


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